Steelers Beat Vikings 26-9; improve the 2-0

The 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers had a slogan that was based off a quote from former head coach Chuck Noll: Whatever it takes. “We’ll do whatever it takes to win” Noll was quoted. And it basically meant that the Steelers would do whatever it took to get the win. And you can’t argue with Noll’s philosophy as that team went 12-2 (Yeah, they only played 14 games back then) and won Super Bowl 10. What I got out of Noll’s quote is that it doesn’t have to always be pretty and so what if it’s ugly, a win is a win is a win and that’s what the ’75 team did as well as the other 3 Super Bowl teams of the 1970’s.

After watching the first 2 games of the 2017 Pittsburgh Steelers, I beginning to believe that they have caught onto Noll’s philosophy as well. In fact, current head coach Mike Tomlin also had a saying that defined their 2008 season: Style points don’t matter. Meaning: Who cares how you win a game, just as long as you get it done. And apparently, that philosophy worked for that Steelers team as they also became Super Bowl Champions after winning Super Bowl 43.

The 2016 defending AFC North Division Champions first 2 games may not be what you call pretty wins, but they were wins nonetheless. Last week, the Steelers held off the Cleveland Browns 21-18 and this week, the Steelers welcomed the Minnesota Vikings to Heinz Field for their home opener and won 26-9.

When you first look at the final score against the Vikings, it’s easy to think that the Steelers blew them out, which is what the score suggests, but if you realized how they got those 26 points, it will honestly make you wonder why the final score wasn’t 49-9 Steelers.

Out of those 26 points, the Steelers only scored two touchdowns which came in the first half: QB Ben Roethlisberger found WR Martavis Bryant for a 27-yard score. Then Big Ben scored again when he found rookie WR JuJu Smith-Shuster for a 4-yard shovel-pass for a TD to extend their lead to 14-0. After that hot start, it was easy to think that the Steelers were getting ready to put the Vikings the same way that Oklahoma State did to the Pitt Panthers in that very stadium 24 hours ago.

And then after that, the Steelers offense took the rest of the day off, form the end zone that is. Now granted, the Vikings defense weren’t pushovers either as they put double coverage on All-Pro WR Antonio Brown, who finished with 5 catches for 62 yards which is mortal stats for him. But that’s why Big Ben has several weapons and he turned to one of them in the person of Martavis Bryant who looked pretty good today with a 3 catch-91-yard game and the TD. In addition to his score, he also had an incredible 51-yard TD which put the Steelers into FG range. Smith-Shuster’s TD was the first in his NFL career as he finished with 16 yards on 3 catches.

RB Le’Veon Bell also showed some improvement as he rushed for 87 yards on 27 carries. He started to show the patience that he was known for last season, but you could tell that the Vikings defense centered on him. Big Ben also put up decent numbers as he passed for 243 yards and those 2 TDs. But I bet even he would tell you that he should’ve probably had 4 TDs.

In the first half, the Steelers looked like the team who beat Miami in the 2016 AFC Wild Card Game, but in the second half, they looked like the team who beat Kansas City in the AFC Divisional Game because they didn’t score a single TD. Like the KC game, the Steelers got into the Red Zone, but they were unable to score, so they turned to K Chris Boswell to help put the Vikings away and like the KC game, Boswell didn’t disappoint as he nailed 3 field goals (4 total) to get the win. To me, Boswell is starting to look like a modern-day Gary Anderson who earned the title Mr. Automatic during his Steelers days (1982-1994) He would’ve probably had 5 field goals if the Steelers didn’t get a penalty that pushed them out of field goal range.

But of course, the concern about the offense is the fact that they left points on the field because they failed to score TDs in the Red Zone, something that no team wants to experience, but it also helps if the defense shows up, which the Steelers defense did.

No, the unit weren’t as impressive as they were against the Browns when they sacked the QB 7 times, but the Steelers got to Vikings QB Case Keenum (20/37, 167 yards, 0 TDs) twice thanks to linebackers Bud Dupree (who missed last week’s game) and Vince Williams, but overall, they got the job done by only allowing one TD from the Vikings offense and 9 points. Now let’s be honest, this wasn’t the same Vikings team that beat the New Orleans Saints last week because starter Sam Bradford wasn’t on the field. After passing for over 300 yards against the Saints, Bradford was injured and missed the game against the Steelers.

The Vikings TD came on a 1-yard score by FB CJ Ham but K Kai Forbath missed the extra point, and that was all for the Vikings, who also committed a late fumble late in the 4th quarter which helped seal the Steelers victory.

I really believe the fact that NFL teams are still developing after their first 2 weeks as the season is still new, that’s why it’s so important to get as many wins as you can early. Granted, you need them later in the season, but getting those early W’s are essential. The Steelers will now prepare to hit the road next Sunday as they take on the 0-2 Chicago Bears.

“We were better this week. We did what was necessary to win.” Said Tomlin after Sunday’s game.

Now, why does that sound familiar?

Whatever it takes.

Notes: In their Home Opener vs. the Vikings, the Steelers had a special tribute to owner Dan Rooney, who passed away April 13th…Rookie LB TJ Watt missed the 2nd half with a groin injury.